Russian and Tajik police to cooperate in criminal investigations

Russia's Minister of Internal Affairs: "Tajik colleagues' assistance was important when it concerned crimes related to drug trafficking and illegal migration"

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YEKATERINBURG, August 27 (Itar-Tass) - Russian and Tajik interior ministries will help each other investigate crimes committed by citizens of their countries, Russian Police Chief Vladimir Kolokoltsev said on Tuesday.

"Thanks to cooperation between the two ministries, the number of crimes committed in Russia by Tajiks has decreased," Kolokoltsev said after a meeting of Russian and Tajik police officials.

"The rate of such crimes decreased over 40% in the period from 2009 through 2012. Tajik citizens often become crime victims themselves. Last year, Russia reported almost 1,700 such crimes, and in the first six months of this year, more than 800 such crimes were reported," he said.

Tajik colleagues' assistance was important when it concerned crimes related to drug trafficking and illegal migration, the official said.

These crimes are mostly committed by criminal groups having international ties. "As far as I know, our Tajik colleagues have similar problems when probing into crimes committed by Russians or against Russian citizens in Tajikistan," he went on.

During the meeting, the parties also considered handing over criminal cases to the interior ministry of the country whose citizens are suspects in these cases.

"The constitutions of our countries ban extradition of citizens who committed crimes in other states, but the inevitability of the punishment principle should be observed and the culprits should bear responsibility," Kolokoltsev noted.